August 12th, 2009 was a beautiful, sunny Wednesday morning in Montreal. Because I was working at the Rogers Cup, I got admission to the grounds and had specifically asked for Wednesday off so I would be able to go check out all the players’ practices. It was really a loaded draw with the most talented ten competing during the day.

At 11 that day, a friend and I walked over to Court four where the world’s No.1, Roger Federer, was expected to get there at 11:30am. Already jam packed with about a few hundred people, there was barely any room to move.

As the time neared, the place was packed with fans who enthusiastically waited to get a glimpse of the Swiss Maestro. With the sun soaring at 95 degrees fahrenheit, we watched him warm up and start hitting balls. To be frank, it was quite uneventful and was supposed to last 2 hours.

So, slowly, we squeeze out of the crowd and come to an open space. I look up at Court four on the other side to see a tall, lanky player dressed in a pink Nike T-shirt and white shorts hitting a few balls. I try to look closer and indeed came to see it was Juan Martin Del Potro.

As he came to the exit gate, there were 6 fans waiting for him to earn his signature and he did sign. As he signed my picture and proceeded to my pal, I told him “I wish you the best of luck in your competition today.”

He turned around and had a huge grin on his face and claimed “Thank you so much for your support.” He seemed like he was extremely pleased about what I had said to him.

As he won yesterday, the irony of this situation just came to my thoughts. The fact that essentially nobody was at hand to root for him and Federer had a ton of fans. Sometimes, it is better to be let alone than to be constantly followed.

Del Potro played a fabulous match this week and is totally worthy of his championship. Vamos!

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Sometimes called ‘Rafa,’ Rafael Nadal is a local of Spain who has made a massive impact in the world of tennis.

Born June three, 1986 in Manacor, Mallorca, Rafael Nadal is the child of Sebastian and Ana Maria Nadal. His sister, Maria Isabel, is 5 years younger than Rafael and is his only sibling.

Standing 6′1′ and weighing 178 lbs, Rafael Nadal turned into a professional tennis player in 2001 after having played since four years of age.

Under the guidance and teaching of Toni Nadal, his uncle, Rafael Nadal commenced learning to play tennis extraordinarily early in life as is evident from his early championship.

Toni, who remains Rafael’s coach, is a particularly critical part of this child’s success. In 2003, Rafael Nadal earned the ATP Newcomer of the Year award.

In 2005, he won 11 titles and also caught recognition as the ‘Most Improved Player’ for 2005 as named by the ATP.

In June 2006, Rafael Nadal won his 2nd Roland Garros crown and also scored his hundredth claycourt career victory.

That same month, Rafael Nadal turned twenty and finished his teenage years with major success. It was during these years that Rafael Nadal won sixteen career titles, which tied the record for the most titles won by a teenager.

Even though Rafael Nadal is right-handed, he plays left-handed and produces a backhand using both. As with most top sportsmen in their sport, Rafael Nadal is managed by IMG and is commonly found in Nike clothes.

Fans who would like to request a signed photograph or just send Rafael Nadal their best wishes are urged to do so in care of his pro connection.

If you are asking for an autograph, be sure to include a SASE ( self-addressed stamped envelope ) along with your request.

Popular items to have signed include blank index cards and photos. It is usually recommended that fans not send any item that they can’t afford to lose, for example cherished possessions and/or limited edition collectibles.

As with all mailed autograph requests, there is no guarantee of an answer. For this reason, many fans simply wish to request a signed photograph.

Depending on the sportsman’s schedule, autographs could be authentic, secretarial, pre-printed or even not possible to provide. Patience is the key to asking for autographs by mail, particularly when you are talking about a sports figure as popular as Rafael Nadal.

Rafael Nadal ATP Tennis 201 ATP Blvd. Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082.

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If you are a tennis fan and actually play yourself, you may well have experienced a game on a clay court. This is the very old, red surface that has been used in countries like France and Spain since the game originated.

There is no other surface quite like clay to have a game of tennis on. The strong red color is very attractive and literally makes tennis a whole different ball game!

Whether or not you have yet to experience playing on a red clay court, I have a few fascinating facts about this unique surface to share with you.

A player who constantly serves and volleys on other surfaces will find themselves really struggling on the class. As will those whose success depends on the accuracy of their booming serves.

If you do ever see a player approach the net while playing on clay, it is a very rare thing indeed. Those who rely on their booming serve will also find that it hasn’t the effect on this surface as it does on others.

So why is the strategy for this game so different? Well, it is very simple, the clay is a thick and heavy surface which sticks to the ball and therefore slows it Down considerably.

So as where you are used to seeing a ball hit the surface then rise at great speed, you will be seeing the opposite happening on a clay court.

There have been some marathon tennis matches played on clay, and that has been because the ball has slowed as it hits the surface and given the player time to be able to reach it.

The rallies are obviously longer and shots easier to reach than they would be on the fast courts. A sure fire winner on grass is probably reachable on clay.

Although the ball is easier to reach, the faster player will always have the advantage over their slower opponents.

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For the most part, ping pong is a sport that is considered to be solely for the indoors. Besides, table tennis is designed to play indoors. Have you have given any thought to enjoying a game table tennis outside though?

Nowadays, many people who love to play table tennis are now playing ping pong outdoors. You have to consider the fact that there is a big difference in playing ping pong indoors and outdoors. In indoor ping pong, the environment is controlled. You never have to deal with the wind and you can set up the lighting however you like.By playing outdoor table tennis, you will encounter wind that will force you to adjust your shots carefully, and you might also be momentarily blinded by the bright sunlight.

The summer months is pretty much the only time that you could really get away with enjoying a game table tennis outside. Why you might ask? This is because if you play in any other season, you will encounter stronger winds that will make it virtually impossible for you to play table tennis.

The table tennis ball is very light and can be easily affected by the wind. The occasional breeze is not something that you have to worry about and it is even welcomed to add to the fun, but stronger winds can seriously detract from the game play. If you are a really accurate player indoors, that really doesn’t matter when you step outdoors to play as you will definitely need to make some adjustments.

Being able to go outdoors and enjoy the sun is another reason that you should consider playing outdoors. You get to enjoy the benefits of all of the fresh air that you would miss out on if you were stuck enjoying a game inside all day. If the sun is shining to hot, try enjoying a game under the shade of a tree.

When you plan on enjoying a game table tennis outdoors, it is important that the table should be set up on a flat concrete surface. Although playing on a grass surface is something that sounds very nice, setting up a table on a grass surface could very well disrupt the game as chances are the surface of the table would not be flat.

The table that you decide to get need to have wheels on the bottom and be designed to withstand outdoors play. Having a table that is made to handle harsh weather environments and made with the intention of being moved around a lot will make it stand the test of time a lot better than would a table that is meant to be indoors. Even though an outside ping pong table is made to be able to use it outdoors, the elements outside can degrade materials no matter what they are made of so it is not a good idea to leave your table outdoors.

Table tennis tables are a real treat and joy for any family to enjoy. If you are looking for outdoor ping pong tables, then you can find them by going to http://outdoortabletennistables.com.

There are qualities which are vital to any great tennis player and as the world of tennis progresses on, these qualities are debated over by fans and players alike.

It can be fun considering the different perspectives and opinions of the many arguments that evolve from the different aspects of the game.

Some very important aspects are listed. Are there any that you would find most important?

Is it volleying? After all, a well rounded net game can pose a threat to any opponent and easily end a point. Look at the past success of players like John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, and even Pete Sampras to a degree.

Many tennis buffs would argue that the modern game favors baseline play over the net. After all, look at the dominance of Rafael Nadal from the back of the court. Even players like Andy Roddick, who once spent more time at the net, are recently favoring the baseline and opting for ground strokes.

Any player with a powerful serve can easily take control of the court if their opponent is unable to break them and this will give them an overall advantage. Take Roddick as a good example of a big serve.

How about speed though? Guys like Nadal can get to just about every ball, making it extremely difficult for their opponents to win points. The harder your opposition has to work for a point, the more unforced errors you’ll ultimately cause.

I think that the x-factor wins over all others. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have a mental attitude that goes with winning. The type of ‘no lose’ attitude which, I think gives them an edge over their opponents.

With the ability to rarely be rattled, their stoic composure and never say die attitude wins them so many more matches than the stats would indicate.

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There are qualities which are vital to any great tennis player and as the world of tennis progresses on, these qualities are debated over by fans and players alike.

It can be fun considering the different perspectives and opinions of the many arguments that evolve from the different aspects of the game.

Some very important aspects are listed. Are there any that you would find most important?

Is it volleying? After all, a well rounded net game can pose a threat to any opponent and easily end a point. Look at the past success of players like John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg, and even Pete Sampras to a degree.

What about baseline play, is that important? Many experts would say that it is the more modern approach as opposed to playing at the net. Take Rafael Nadal for example, he spends a lot of time hanging at the back of the court rather that up at the net. And other players such as Andy Roddick have changed tactics in favour of the baseline play.

Any player with a powerful serve can easily take control of the court if their opponent is unable to break them and this will give them an overall advantage. Take Roddick as a good example of a big serve.

Players have a hard time winning points if their opponent is fast at reaching the ball. Players like Nadal manage to reach almost every ball coming their way. If your opponent has to play hard to get a point then you will be causing them to make unforced errors.

What I think is the most important aspect is the x-factor, as in the mental game. Rafael Nadal knows how to play a tough mental game and as a result has some of the toughest in the history of tennis.

With the ability to rarely be rattled, their stoic composure and never say die attitude wins them so many more matches than the stats would indicate.

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One of the more prestigious surfaces in the world of tennis is that of red clay. It’s right up there with grass when it comes to tradition and history, and it’s commonly used throughout Europe and South America today.

While these courts are common in other parts of the world, they’re far more rare in America. Still, they do exist, and you should consider yourself lucky if you have the opportunity to play a match on this surface.

If you’ve never played on red clay courts before, I’d like to share a few pieces of knowledge that you may find informative about them.

First of all, the most effective strategy on this surface has always been one from the baseline. Players traditionally rely on powerful ground strokes as a means of winning their matches.

Unfortunately, players with big serves and proficient net games simply won’t find as much success on clay courts. The impact of a hard hit serve or a quick rush to the net simply doesn’t have the same effectiveness.

You might be wondering why it would matter, but there’s a good reason for this. The makeup of the clay lends itself to a ball that bounces high and slowly off the ground, giving your opponent a lot of time to get to it.

Unlike hard courts, you’ll seldom see the ball skipping off the surface and bouncing up at an increased speed. In fact, you’ll see just the opposite.

On clay, your opponent will have more time to get to each shot that you hit. This is why the points and matches are generally longer on clay than they are in other settings.

This results in very long rallies, since balls that ordinarily couldn’t be returned are gotten to on this surface. This makes things interesting, but they’re also more challenging.

As a result, anyone who moves quickly during the course of a match will definitely have an edge.

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Tennis fans around the world are rejoicing as the grand slam season has kicked off. Things are most definitely exciting on both sides of the tour, leading many to speculate as to who will dominate the sport this year. Let’s take a look at the men of the sport.

Things will certainly be interesting in men’s tennis this year. It’s one of the first years in recent memory where fans legitimately believe that more than just two players have a chance at finishing on top.

Though Federer and Nadal occupy the top two spots in the world, there are a few players who could end up the year ranked at number one. Let’s take a look at the most likely finishers now.

No article like this would be proper without calling Federer the most likely person to rank atop the world. After all, he’s held a pretty firm grasp on the position for over eight years now. On the other hand, he’s getting older and others are catching up.

If Rafael Nadal can stay healthy, there’s no reason to believe that he can’t finish there. In fact, many believe that he would have finished there in 2009 had he not been forced to miss Wimbledon due to his knee injury.

On the rise is the young 20 year old Juan Martin Del Potro, whose incredible win at the US Open shocked many tennis fans. To knowledgeable ones, the Argentine’s emergence wasn’t such a surprise. The kid is incredibly talented and has what it takes to capture the world’s top ranking this year.

Then, there are two final players who will both have a go at the throne.

Novak Djokovic is one of those guys who everyone thought would be number one at some point, yet he hasn’t quite gotten there yet. He’s more mature at the age of 23, and could finally have both the physical and mental game to get there.

Then, there’s Andy Murray. At 22 years old, this British talent is on the rise and peaked as high as number two last year. With some big wins in 2010, he could be this year’s dark horse.

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Due to the Aussie Open marking the beginning of the new 2010 tennis year, the excitement is officially here again. There are several players making up a field that is now more up for grabs than it’s happened to be in quite a few years.

No longer are the days of Federer and Rafa Nadal dominating any tournament. There are some other players competing professionally with legitimate chances every instance a match commences.

Despite the fact that Federer and Rafa Nadal sit on the number one and two spots in the tour, there are two or three players that can potentially end up the year atop the field at number 1. Why don’t we get a look at the most likely heirs to the throne at this point.

Certainly, there is certainly Roger Federer. He may well at all times be considered the leading candidate to end up atop the the rankings, because he’s done this just about every season during the duration of the most recent decade. Nevertheless, his age of twenty nine reveals that he is getting up there in years.

If Rafa Nadal can stay in good health, there is no valid reason to that he can’t wind up there. In fact, plenty fans think that he may have ended up there in 2009 had he not been required to skip Wimbledon due to his knee condition.

Also in the mix is the burgeoning 20 year old Juan Martin Del Potro, whose incredible title at Flushing Meadows stunned lots of tennis devotees. To active ones, the young player’s win wasn’t such a shock. The kid is amazingly gifted and is good enough to seize the tour’s best ranking in 2010.

Finishing things off are a pair of additional possible men. Let’s take a glance at them both.

Novak Djokovic is among these guys who fans was sure might be the very best at some point, however he hasn’t exactly gotten there yet. He’s a bit more level headed at his age of 23, and may perhaps finally have both the physical and psychological game to get there.

Then, there’s Andy Murray. With youth on his side, this Scottish talent is still improving and found himself as high as the second spot in 2009. With a few big wins in 2010, he may well be 2010’s unexpected surprise.

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Just a year and a half ago, Justine Henin ruled the WTA tennis tour, and many were calling her the best women’s player of our generation. It seemed like no one could stop the diminutive but powerful Henin.

Many were calling her the Roger Federer of women’s tennis, and deservedly so. She was simply unstoppable at her best. Why did she retire in 2008, then?

Her retirement had everything to do with the fact that she simply grew tired of the lifestyle that comes with that of a professional athlete. The training and the grueling schedule had taken their toll on this champion.

There were personal initiatives that she preferred to focus on, including a camp for children where she’d teach them how to play tennis.

It wasn’t until a few months ago during the fall of 2009 in which Henin announced that she’d be planning a return to women’s professional tennis. Fans of the sport rejoiced, as her presence would certainly add an interesting element to the state of the female game.

Many wondered if Henin would be able to compete at the level she previously played at. After all, nearly two years away from the sport could leave her rusty and a bit older. Will she be able to return to the world’s number one ranking that she firmly occupied before she called it quits?

Boy, were they wrong. Justine Henin looked as if she never took a day off after easily beating Nadia Petrova in straight sets at Brisbane. The competitive fire still burns in this warrior. In fact, some people claimed that she looked as if she never even took a day off.

From here, there’s one thing on her mind, and no one’s doubting she can get there. Expect to see her back at the top in due time.

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